Local Coffee Shop Inside Geist Christian Church Serves Up a Heavenly Cup of Joe

Photographer: Michael Durr

Schuyler Glancy was a junior in high school when he started working for Higher Grounds coffee shop. At that time, Higher Grounds’ headquarters is in Fort Wayne, and they had a couple of shops here in the Indianapolis area. Glancy worked at their shop located inside Geist Christian Church, on the corner of 126th Street and Promise Road.

Glancy enjoyed his time working at the coffee shop, but he stopped working there when he graduated from high school and went on to college. After college, he worked a couple of different jobs, owned a candle business and also owned a seasonal ice cream store. An entrepreneur at heart, he was interested in owning and operating something new.

Glancy wondered what became of the little coffee shop he used to work at inside Geist Christian Church. He contacted the church and learned that Higher Grounds no longer operated there, and the church was running a coffee shop there themselves and was about to close it, as it wasn’t very profitable for them. Glancy offered to lease the space. Geist Christian Church agreed.

Glancy also reached out to Higher Grounds in Fort Wayne to ask about opening a branch in Geist. Higher Grounds wasn’t interested in expanding, however, they gave him permission to open a store and use the brand. Glancy was thrilled, especially to be in the exact location where he worked as a high school student.

“I think it’s the people,” Glancy says when asked why he wanted to own a coffee shop. “In general, the coffee industry is great because of the people you serve. It’s almost like you get to know your customers and they’re part of your family. Coffee is a comfort drink. You get a hot cup of coffee and have a conversation and it’s just so welcoming and inviting and it’s something I’m really happy to be a part of.”

Higher Grounds is not only for Geist Christian church members, it’s open to the public as well. They are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Because they are located one block down from Fishers High School, it’s a great space for students after school.

“We have lots of tables and comfortable chairs for students to meet and do homework and study groups,” Glancy says “Obviously, because we are in a church it’s also a wonderful place for Bible studies as well.”

Higher Grounds is located within the church lobby so it’s very spacious. There’s a friendly, family vibe. There is a nice outside area where kids can draw with chalk. Trails circle the property and lead to a creek that runs through the backyard.

Glancy loves being located within the church. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement.

“It’s kind of a cool partnership because we have customers who are coming in just for the coffee shop but they also get that church exposure too if they’re looking for it,” he says. “If they are looking for a new church, we certainly have a lot of information to provide. Whether you’re coming here for the coffee shop or the church, you have exposure to the opposite, if you want it made available to you. It’s a cool opportunity for all of our customers, just by coming into the building.”

High Grounds Coffee is located inside Geist Christian Church at the corner of 126th Street and Promise Road in Fishers. For more information, visit them online at hgfishers.com or give them a call at 317-863-6509.

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